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SENATOR SPEARMAN: IT’S TIME TO CLOSE THE STALKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LOOPHOLE AND PROTECT VICTIMS FROM GUN VIOLENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2017

SENATOR SPEARMAN: IT’S TIME TO CLOSE THE STALKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LOOPHOLE AND PROTECT VICTIMS FROM GUN VIOLENCE

CARSON CITY - Today, Senator Pat Spearman released the following statement before the hearing on Senate Bill 124 in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 124 closes a loophole that allows stalkers and alleged domestic abusers to possess and purchase firearms.

“Survivors of domestic violence and stalking shouldn’t have to live in fear that their tormentors will return to harm them again with a gun. It’s time to close the domestic violence and stalking loopholes in Nevada’s gun laws that were created last session by Republican leadership. Lives are at stake.”

Senate Bill 124 corrects major flaws in Senate Bill 240, a Republican bill from the 2015 Legislative Session. The Republican leadership’s bill created a loophole that allowed for people convicted of stalking or those subject to an extended domestic violence protection order to continue to possess and purchase firearms. Democratic Senator Debbie Smith had legislation to close these loopholes, and Senate Democrats attempted to fix the loopholes via amendments. Republican leadership blocked those attempts.

Nevada consistently ranks top in the nation for domestic violence fatalities. Research shows that women are five times more likely to be killed when a gun is present in a domestic violence situation, and people with a history of domestic violence are more likely to subsequently kill an intimate partner.

Senate Bill 124 will be heard today in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:00 pm.